Agitating mechanism



J. F.-REEDY AGI'IATING MECHANISM Dec. 20, 1938.

Filed Nov. 5, 1936 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Dec. 20, 1938. J, F; REEDY 2,140,970

I AGITA'IIING MECHANISM FiledNov. 5, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 20, 1938 UNITED STAES PAT? 8 Claims.

This invention relates to an agitating mechanism, and it is primarily an object of the invention to provide a mechanism of this kind wherein direct bodily reciprocation is imposed upon the element to be vibrated such element, for example, being a separating screen, cleaning tables, and the like.

The invention also has for an object to pro vide an agitating mechanism including means substantially eliminating unnecessary vibration when the mechanism is in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this kind including a member supported for endwise movement together with means for moving said member endwise in opposite directions.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved agitating mechanism whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure l is a view in side elevation illustrating a screen apparatus including an agitating mechanism constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and of somewhat a '1'; diagrammatic character;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrow;

Figure 4 is an enlarged detailed View partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the mounting of a reciprocating member as herein embodied together with means directly associated therewith for reciprocatingthe same;

Figure is a sectional VleW taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrow with certain of the. parts in elevation.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, i

denotes the side members of a supporting frame.

of desired dimensions and which may be supported in any desired manner upon a required angle and height. As the supporting structure for the frame F forms no part of the present invention (Cl. i l-55) it is not believed that a detailed description and illustration need be given. It is also to be stated that while this frame in Figure 1 is illustrated as being disposed on an angle to the horizontal it can, if desired, be horizontally disposed.

The members i substantially midway the ends thereof rotatably support a shaft 2 extending transversely thereof and bridging the space therebetween. One end portion of this shaft 2 extends a desired distance beyond one of the side members l and said extended portion carries a pulley 3 or the like whereby the shaft may be operatively engaged with a desired source of power.

Keyed for rotation with the shaft 2 inwardly of but immediately adjacent to each of the side members I of the frame is a lifter plate or disk 4 herein disclosed as having four high points a. These high points a, as illustrated in Figure 1, are equidistantly spaced around the shaft 2 and also equidistantly spaced radially with respect to the axis of the shaft 2. It is to be understood, however, that these high points a if desired may be increased or reduced in number in accordance with the number of strokes desired to be imposed upon the associated lifter rod 5 upon one rotation of the shaft 2. It is also to be stated that if desired these high points a may be irregularly spaced both circumferentially around the shaft 2 and radially thereof so that an assembly is provided to cause an irregular reciprocation of the rod 5 both as to time sequence and the length of the strokes.

Each of the lifter plates or disks 4 is housed within a receptacle C bolted, as at t, or otherwise rigidly secured to the adjacent side member I of the frame and, as clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the shaft 2 is rotatably disposed through this casing C at substantially its axial center. The upper portion of the casing C is formed to provide an elongated tubular guide member 8, the bore of which is in communication with the interior of the casing C. Mounted for direct reciprocation within this guide sleeve or member 6 is the lifter rod 5, said rod being of desired length and having its outer end portion at all times extended beyond the adjacent end of the guide sleeve or member 5. To facilitate the mounting and the direct reciprocating movement of the rod or bar 5 a bearing or bushing "i is placed within the member or sleeve 5 and, through which the rod 5 snugly passes.

Coacting with the outer or upper open end of the member or sleeve in is a gland nut 8 for coaction in a well known manner with packing 9 surrounding the rod 5 and interposed between.

the bushing l and the applied gland nut 3.

Positioned above the frame is the element E to be agitated and which element E in the present embodiment of the invention constitutes a separating screen structure although I do not wish to be understood as confining my invention at all times to use with an element of this particular character.

The side members i (l of this element E substantially midway the ends thereof are provided with the downwardly facing bearings l each of which engages from above the upper or extended end portion of a lifter bar 5 so that as the shaft rotates the resultant reciprocation of each of the lifter bars 5 will result in direct bodily reciprocation of the element E in the same general direction as the direction of reciprocation of the bar 5.

In Figure 2 of the drawings, it is to be noted that the bars 5 as a result of their coaction with the bearings l i provide supporting means for the element E. The element E, as herein disclosed, is further maintained in desired assembly with respect to the bars 5 by the contractile springs l 2 of desired tension. A spring 52 is associated with each end portion of the side members it of the element E and each of these spring as hereindisclosed is suitably anchored, as at l4, to a member l of. the base or supporting frame while the upper end portion of the spring I2 is connected to an elongated shank l5 slidably disposed through an outstanding lug l6 carried by a side member ill of the element E, said shank l5 having threaded thereon a holding nut I! which contacts with the lug 96 from above. The nut ll provides means whereby the tension of the spring 92 may be regulated or adjusted as deemed necessary.

To assure most effective mounting of the element E, I find it of particular advantage to have the springs I2 with their associated shanks i5 disposed in directions substantially in parallelism with the lifting bars 5.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, the upper marginal portions of the members it of the element E at a point substantially midway the ends thereof are connected by the transversely disposed bracing bar l8. This bar extends a desired distance beyond each of the members ID of the element E and each extended portion of the bar i8 has freely or slidably disposed therethrough an elongated rod l9, one end of which is suitably anchored, as at 20, to a side member l of the base or supporting frame. The portion of the rod 19 above the extended end of the bar i8 is surrounded by an expansible spring 2% herein disclosed as a coil spring. This member or spring 2! is interposed between the bar 48 and a cap 22 freely mounted on the red It and held against outward movement by a holding nut 23 threading on the rod I9 outwardly of the cap 22. It is believed to be obvious that by proper manipulation of the nut 23 the tension of the spring 2| may be regulated. It is also .to be noted, as illustrated in Figure 1, that the rods 59 are disposed in parallelism with the rods 5 and in practice it has been found of particular advantage to have the rods l9 and the bars 5 coplanar in a direction transversely of the base or supporting frame or the element E. It has been found of particular advantage and importance to provide means to substantially eliminate vibration of the operating mechanism for the element E and its supportingbase or structure. In the present embodiment of my invention thisvibration is eliminated by providing the casing C with a depending tubular member or sleeve 25 substantially aligned with the member or sleeve 6 although herein disclosed as having its bore of greater transverse dimensions.

Snugly mounted for sliding movement within this member or sleeve 25 is a balancing member 26 of a weight not less than approximately twothirds the weight of the element E. This member 26 carries a roller 21 which has contact with the periphery of the adjacent lifting plate or disk and is constantly maintained in such contact by an expansible spring 28 of proper tension interposed between the member 26 and the plate 29 closing the lower or outer end of the member or sleeve 25.

As is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, it is also preferred that the inner or inserted end of each of the lifter rods 5 carry a roller 39 for direct contact with its associated lifter plate or disk 4.

It has also been found of advantage to position within the member or sleeve 25 suitable guide strips 35 for coaction with the balancing member 26.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an agitating mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination, a lifter rod, means for supporting said rod for reciprocating movement, an element to be agitated, said rod providing a supporting means for the element, a rotating lifting plate contacting with the rod for intermittently moving the rod and the element in. one direction, means for moving said rod and element in the opposite direction between the said first named 'movements, and means engaging the lifting plate at a point approximately in radial alinernent with the point of contact between the plate and rod to counterbalance the load of the element imposed thereon.

2. In combination, a lifter rod, means for supporting said rod for reciprocating move-ment, an element to be agitated, said rod. providing a supporting means for the element, a rotating lifting plate coacting with the rod for intermittently moving the rod and the element in one direction, means for moving said rod and element in the opposite direction between the said first named movements, a weighted member, and means asso ciated with said member to permit the same to coact with the lifting plate to counterbalance the load of the element imposed thereon, said last named means being so constructed and arranged to allow the weighted member to yield with respect to the plate as the plate rotates.

3. In combination, a supporting structure, a casing mounted upon the structure, a rotating lifting plate within the casing, means'for rotating the plate, an upwardly disposed sleeve carried by the casing and communicating with the interior of the casing, a lifter rod extending into the sleeve for coaction with the lifting plate for outward movement as the plate rotates, a member to be agitated operatively engaged with the rod, means for constantly urging the rod inwardly of the sleeve to its limit of such movement as determined by the lifting plate, a second sleeve opening into the casing and opposed to the first sleeve, a balance member slidably engaged with said second sleeve, and yieldable means for constantly maintaining said weighted member in contact with the lifting plate.

4. In combination, a supporting structure, a member to be agitated positioned above the supporting structure, a lifter rod mounted upon the supporting structure and engaging from below the central portion of the member, means; coacting with the extremities of the member and the supporting structure for constantly urging the member toward the supporting structure, a rotating lifting plate carried by the supporting structure engaging the lifter rod from below for intermittently moving outwardly the lifter rod upon rotation of the plate, and a weighted member constructed and arranged for coaction with the rotating plate and moving in a straight linein directions opposite to the direction of movements of the lifter rod.

5. In combination, a supporting structure, a member to be agitated positioned above the supporting structure, a lifter rod mounted upon the supporting structure and engaging from below the central portion of the member, means coacting with the extremities of the member and the supporting structure for constantly urging the member toward the supporting structure, a rotating lifting plate carried by the supporting structure engaging the lifter rod from below for intermittently moving outwardly the lifter rod upon rotation of the plate, and a weighted member constructed and arranged for coaction with the rotating plate and moving in a straight line in directions opposite to the direction of movements of the lifter rod, the path of travel of the weighted member being in alignment with the path of travel of the lifter rod.

6. In combination, a base structure, a member to be agitated positioned above said structure and free thereof for independent movement, means for resisting the movement of the member away from the base structure and for urging said member toward the base structure, a lifter rod supported by the base structure for endwise reciprooating movement, said rod having contact from below with the member at all positions of the member, a rotatable plate constructed and arranged for engagement with the lifter rod to z intermittently move the member outwardly and away from the base structure to agitate said member, and .a yieldably supported weighted unit contacting the plate at a point substantially diametrically opposed to the point of contact between the plate and lifter rod.

7. A driving mechanism for a screening element comprising a lifter rod mounted for endwise reciprocating movement, said rod to have contact from below with an intermediate portion of the screening element to provide a support for said element, means for constantly maintaining the lifter rod in contact with the element, said means permitting the element to have movement as determined by the reciprocation of the lifter rod, and means for intermitently moving outwardly the lifter rod.

8. A driving mechanism for a member to be agitated comprising a casing, supporting means for said casing, the upper portion of the casing 

